Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: A Tribute to A Then Young Lad

  1. #1
    Silver Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Pretoria
    Posts
    233
    Thanks
    77
    Thanked 45 Times in 31 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1

    A Tribute to A Then Young Lad

    I was fitting a brand-new motor onto the back of our boat.
    Just then I heard the ominous sound of the tick-tock hoist slip.
    Gravity kicked in. The full weight of the motor came down … came down onto me as I was crouched under the motor.
    This caused my back to bend to a bow shape, seize and lock in that shape.
    I was trapped … trapped under the motor, unable to move.

    I knew that it would only be a matter of time before my back snapped like a twig … but I could do nothing … nothing whatsoever about my plight … except to once again start reeling off them Hail Marys, that had always worked in my long and troublesome life.
    Would Mother Mary come through? Would She??

    Just as my back was starting to give and I was giving up hope, I became aware of someone approaching.
    It was our son, Christopher Mark Greenland, known affectionately as CG.
    I heard him intone an exclamation of concern – “Dad”. The expression on his face mirrored my desperation and helplessness.
    The relief I felt at seeing him played out in my mind as a cruel trick.
    What could this 13-year-old do about this horrible situation?

    Nothing!
    Fate was adding to the horror by letting our son witness his father being crippled for life.
    In a hoarse whisper of utter desperation I started to tell him to get a car jack to wedge under the motor, hoping against hope that there was enough time.

    However, to my utter astonishment and disbelief, the lad grabbed the motor and lifted it up and off me as if were a feather …
    all 268 KGs ... yes 268 KGS of a 75 HP Mercury boat motor.
    I was free.!!!
    I was not going to be crippled for life. !!!
    It was unbelievable.!!!

    As these words hit the screen my eyes well up in tears of that pride that a father has for a son …
    a son who has always been so good …
    so good at everything he has turned his hand to …
    including now being South African Bass Fishing Champion …Click image for larger version. 

Name:	cg_win_bronkus.jpg 
Views:	170 
Size:	57.1 KB 
ID:	7690
    due to represent our adopted country in the USA in November 2019.

    Feel that pride with me .. and yes, don’t forget to thank Mother Mary.

    PS: When we later transferred that motor to another boat, it took three grown men.
    Let us have the conversation!
    Blog: http://coginito.blogspot.com Cognito ergo sum

  2. Thanks given for this post:

    ians (11-Oct-19)

  3. #2
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    3,943
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 317 Times in 287 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ChrisNG53 View Post
    I was fitting a brand-new motor onto the back of our boat.
    Just then I heard the ominous sound of the tick-tock hoist slip.
    Gravity kicked in. The full weight of the motor came down … came down onto me as I was crouched under the motor.
    This caused my back to bend to a bow shape, seize and lock in that shape.
    I was trapped … trapped under the motor, unable to move.

    I knew that it would only be a matter of time before my back snapped like a twig … but I could do nothing … nothing whatsoever about my plight … except to once again start reeling off them Hail Marys, that had always worked in my long and troublesome life.
    Would Mother Mary come through? Would She??

    Just as my back was starting to give and I was giving up hope, I became aware of someone approaching.
    It was our son, Christopher Mark Greenland, known affectionately as CG.
    I heard him intone an exclamation of concern – “Dad”. The expression on his face mirrored my desperation and helplessness.
    The relief I felt at seeing him played out in my mind as a cruel trick.
    What could this 13-year-old do about this horrible situation?

    Nothing!
    Fate was adding to the horror by letting our son witness his father being crippled for life.
    In a hoarse whisper of utter desperation I started to tell him to get a car jack to wedge under the motor, hoping against hope that there was enough time.

    However, to my utter astonishment and disbelief, the lad grabbed the motor and lifted it up and off me as if were a feather …
    all 268 KGs ... yes 268 KGS of a 75 HP Mercury boat motor.
    I was free.!!!
    I was not going to be crippled for life. !!!
    It was unbelievable.!!!

    As these words hit the screen my eyes well up in tears of that pride that a father has for a son …
    a son who has always been so good …
    so good at everything he has turned his hand to …
    including now being South African Bass Fishing Champion …Click image for larger version. 

Name:	cg_win_bronkus.jpg 
Views:	170 
Size:	57.1 KB 
ID:	7690
    due to represent our adopted country in the USA in November 2019.

    Feel that pride with me .. and yes, don’t forget to thank Mother Mary.

    PS: When we later transferred that motor to another boat, it took three grown men.

    Well done to the lad...it is awesome when you see the youngsters working their way up the ranks...bass fishing needs some new young blood...i see the result are still the same ol same ol people winning the comps.

    Us old folk tend to do some silly things.

    Back in the day when i did a lot of bass fishing (we won the KZN team comp in 2006...featured in the bass mag just about every month during that season as Team Cranky) i decided to put a new carpet on the boat..at 2 am in the morning i found i could not move...the genkem glue had go the better of me ...i eventual managed to roll off the boat and pull myself out the garage into fresh air.

  4. #3
    Silver Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Pretoria
    Posts
    233
    Thanks
    77
    Thanked 45 Times in 31 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    Thank you for your statement of appreciation.
    Let us have the conversation!
    Blog: http://coginito.blogspot.com Cognito ergo sum

  5. #4
    New Member darrinhein's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    Congo to this lad!! I wish I could have this skill.

  6. Thanks given for this post:

    ChrisNG53 (02-Nov-19)

  7. #5
    New Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Spain
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
    The ability of the boy is incredible and very good of you to share the experience.

  8. Thanks given for this post:

    ChrisNG53 (02-Nov-19)

  9. #6
    Silver Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Pretoria
    Posts
    233
    Thanks
    77
    Thanked 45 Times in 31 Posts
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by darrinhein View Post
    Congo to this lad!! I wish I could have this skill.
    Right now he is in the USA representing this our adopted Country.
    Let us have the conversation!
    Blog: http://coginito.blogspot.com Cognito ergo sum

  10. #7
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    3,943
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 317 Times in 287 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by ChrisNG53 View Post
    Right now he is in the USA representing this our adopted Country.
    A day to be proud of South Africans.

  11. Thanks given for this post:

    ChrisNG53 (03-Nov-19)

Similar Threads

  1. Young Electrician Dies
    By 123 in forum Electrical Contracting Industry Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 14-Mar-11, 09:30 AM
  2. Young, black, and unhappy
    By duncan drennan in forum South African Politics Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 27-Mar-07, 09:39 AM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •